On Haiti: Barrow Says Belize Should Fix Its Own Gang Problems First

Shyne Barrow

While the Minister of National Defense has confirmed Belize’s participation in the upcoming mission to Haiti, the Leader of the Opposition says that there is better use for those soldiers and sailors at home.  In the context of the ongoing tension between Belize and Guatemala at the Sarstoon, Shyne Barrow says that a forward operating base should be re-established at the mouth of the river and have B.D.F. and coast guard personnel deployed to that location.  Barrow also says that Belize should address its own issues with gang violence first, before joining a peacekeeping mission to Haiti.

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“So when it comes to sending BDF soldiers to Haiti, we need to take care of Belize, we need to fix the gang problem in Belize before we can venture on to Haiti.  But I do understand that we are part of CARICOM and so it is something that needs to be considered, but I would ask the government to consider fixing the gang problem here in Belize before they could try to put our soldiers in harm’s way in Haiti.  Before we send fifty soldiers to Haiti, put fifty soldiers at the Sarstoon.  Put a makeshift FOB at the Sarstoon.  The House of Representatives authorized over a million dollars to build an FOB, why is it that we have no presence at the Sarstoon?  You want to go to Haiti, meanwhile at the Sarstoon the Guatemalan Armed Forces are taking our flags on the Tenth of September?  The Guatemalan Armed Forces are harassing and intimidating our Belizean women, men and children, but you wahn goh da Haiti?  Mek wi fix weh di happen da Sarstoon.”